WOK Archives

Boeing P-12E at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, in markings of 6th Pursuit Squadron, 18th PG, Wheeler Field, Hawaii

Role

Fighter aircraft

Manufacturer

Boeing Aircraft Company

First flight

1929

Introduced

1930

Retired

1941

Primary users

United States Army Air Force
United States Navy
Philippine Army Air Corps<

Royal Thai Air Force

Produced

1929-1932

Number built

586 *366 P-12 *187 F4B *33 demonstrators and exports

The Boeing P-12 or F4B was an American pursuit aircraft that was operated by the United States Army Air Corps and United States Navy.

Design and development

Boeing developed the aircraft as a private venture to replace the Boeing F3B and Boeing F2B with the United States Navy. The new aircraft was smaller, lighter and more agile than the ones it replaced but still used the Wasp engine of the F3B. This resulted in a higher top speed and overall better performance. As result of Navy evaluation 27 were ordered as the F4B-1, later evaluation by the United States Army Air Corps resulted in orders with the designation P-12. Boeing supplied the USAAC with 366 P-12’s between 1929 and 1932. Production of all variants totalled 586.

Operational history

P-12s were flown by the 17th Pursuit Group (34th, 73rd, and 95th Pursuit Squadrons) at March Field, California, and the 20th Pursuit Group (55th, 77th and 79th Pursuit Squadrons) at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. Older P-12s were used by groups overseas: the 4th Composite Group (3rd Pursuit Squadron) in the Philippines, the 16th Pursuit Group (24th, 29th , 74th, and 79th Pursuit Squadrons) in the Canal Zone, and the 18th Pursuit Group (6th and 19th Pursuit Squadrons) in Hawaii.

The P-12 remained in service with first-line pursuit groups until replaced by Boeing P-26s in 1934-35. Survivors were relegated to training duties until 1941, when most were grounded and assigned to mechanics’s schools.

Boeing Model 235, as F4B-3 but with redesigned vertical tail surfaces, 550 hp R-1340-16 engine, underwing racks for two 116lb bombs, last 45 built had an enlarged headrest housing a life raft, 92 built and one built from spares.

F4B-4A

23 assorted P-12 aircraft transferred from USAAC for use as a radio-controlled target aircraft.

Model 100

Civil version of the F4B-1, four built.

Model 100A

Two-seat civil version for Howard Hughes, later converted to a single-seater, one built.

Model 100D

One Model 100 temporary used as a P-12 demonstrator.

Model 100E

Export version of the P-12E for the Siamese Air Force, two built, one later transferred to the Japanese Navy under the designation AXB./dd>

Model 100F

One civil variant of the P-12F sold to Pratt & Whitney as an engine test bed.

Model 218

Prototype of the F-12E/F4B-3 variant, after evaluation sold to the Chinese Air Force.

Model 256

Export version of the F4B-4 for Brazilian Navy, 14 built./dd>

Model 257

Export version for Brazil with an F4B-3 fuselage and P-12E wings, 9 built.

Boeing P-12

Boeing P-12 with Captain Ira Eaker

Boeing F4B of VF-5 squadron (Navy version of P-12)

Operators

Brazil

China

Chinese Nationalist Air Force

Philippines

Philippine Army Air Corps

Spain

Thailand

Royal Thai Air Force operated Boeing 100E variant.

United States

United States Army Air Corps

United States Navy

Aircraft on display

A surviving P-12E is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton, Ohio.

One of the four Model 100s is displayed at Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington, United States

A replica P-12B is on display at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Sevierville, Tennessee